Gas Pump Security Through UI Design
I like how gas stations require you to enter your zip code when paying with a credit card. It just feels safer….. but typically when people have had their wallets or purse stolen in my neighborhood, the thieves are clever enough to know what zip-code they stole it from, and they pump a lot of gas for their friends.
Fortunately a gas station I visited recently has found a way to combat this problem through poor UI design. When trying to pay with my credit card and entering my zip code, I kept getting the screen message: “ERROR: INCORRECT KEY COMBINATION.” The instructions said: “KEY IN YOUR ZIP CODE AND PRESS ENTER”. After receiving this message three times, I finally figured out what the problem was. The gas pump had an intentionally designed bad UI. There are two buttons that are labeled “Enter”, only the small one works for keying in your zip code. I am assuming they did this on purpose to deter people with stolen credit cards.
Which enter button would you press?
